The St. Louis Blues (19-9-5) and Pittsburgh Penguins (18-8-5) meet Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. ET puck drop at PPG Paints Arena. Below, we look at the Blues vs. Penguins odds and lines and make our expert NHL picks, predictions and bets.
St. Louis has earned a pair of two-goal wins — over the Edmonton Oilers and Minnesota Wild — since the league returned from its COVID-19 hiatus last week. The second of those wins was in Saturday’s Winter Classic at Target Field.
The Blues are 4-1 over their last five games and 9-2-2 over their last 13. Paced by the NHL’s third-best power play (29.5%), St. Louis ranks fifth in the league with 3.45 goals per game.
The Penguins continue to be a streaky club and are currently on an eight-game win streak. The last time Pittsburgh had a winning streak or losing skid of fewer than three games was mid-November.
The Pens have an elite penalty-killing unit that leads the league with a 91.0% success rate of thwarting opponents’ power plays en route to posting the league’s fifth-best goals-against average (2.48).
Blues at Penguins odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:48 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Blues +115 (bet $100 to win $115) | Penguins -140 (bet $140 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Blues +1.5 (-240) | Penguins -1.5 (+175)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: +112 | U: -140)
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Blues at Penguins projected goalies
Jordan Binnington (10-6-3, 2.89 GAA, .909 SV%) vs. Tristan Jarry (15-5-4, 1.93 GAA, .932 SV%)
Binnington last played when he allowed 4 goals in Saturday’s Winter Classic at Minnesota. He’s been solid against shots from distance but somewhat iffy against mid-range shots and efforts from close quarters. Binnington backs a defense that ranks in the bottom third of allowing those types of quality looks.
Jarry has allowed more than 2 goals in just one start since Nov. 18. He’s 10-1-1 with a stellar .950 SV% over that stretch. Jarry owns terrific numbers at home over recent seasons, and he’s clocked a .943 SV% over his last three starts on home ice.
Blues at Penguins odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Penguins 3, Blues 2
Money line
The Pens have gone 13-2-1 record since Nov. 18 while scoring 3.50 goals per game and allowing just 1.81. Their special teams have been outstanding.
Puck-possession analytics don’t support the Blues’ 9-2-2 mark over their last 13 tilts.
BACK THE PENGUINS (-140).
Against the spread
A lot of extra juice drowning out these prices: PASS.
Over/Under
The Under is 6-2-4 across the last 12 Blues-Pens meetings in Pittsburgh.
Jarry returning from COVID-19 protocol and taking the ice for the first time since Dec. 18 creates some gray area, but Pittsburgh excels in choking down good looks from the slot, and its numbers since early December have even been improving in that area.
Some of the Blues’ recent scores of been over-colored by power-play goals while Pittsburgh went a 14-game stretch from Nov. 16 to Dec. 17 without allowing an extra-man goal. St. Louis also may head into this contest with a bit of a Winter Classic hangover.
There is value in the UNDER 6.5 (-140).
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